(1863) Civil War Store Card F-225AFa-6a, F. Gies MI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$31 Genuine 01-20-2014 Stack's Bowers

Description

F. Geiss & Bro's of Detroit issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Detroit's growing industrial economy made it a significant source of Civil War tokens, with merchants across the city issuing pieces to maintain commerce. F. Geiss & Bro's issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 225AFa-6a) is common among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 6 cataloged varieties, F. Geiss & Bro's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 225AFa-6a